Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a term used to describe kidney damage or reduced kidney function (regardless of the cause) that persists for more than 3 months. Sometimes, CKD leads to kidney failure or end stage renal disease (ESRD), which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Put simply, dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood. It is a medical treatment for people with ESRD that does some of the work healthy kidneys would do, including Removing waste, salt, and extra water from your body, regulating your body’s fluid balance, and helping to control your blood pressure.

There are two ways to get dialysis:

1. 1. Hemodialysis (Blood dialysis)- With hemodialysis, a machine removes blood from your body, filters it through a dialyzer (artificial kidney), and returns the cleaned blood to your body.
   2. Peritoneal dialysis (Water Dialysis)- With peritoneal dialysis, tiny blood vessels inside the abdominal lining (peritoneum) filter blood through the aid of a dialysis solution. This solution is a type of cleansing liquid that contains water, salt, and other additives.

In hemodialysis: you usually need to go to the dialysis unit three times a week, while in peritoneal dialysis you have to do the water exchange 3-4 times in a day.

Each treatment takes about 4 hours and is carried out thrice a week on alternate days.

Yes, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t have delicious food anymore. Rather, you will have to be careful with your nutrient intake. Please talk to your nephrologist or dietician for a discussion on your specific dietary needs and restrictions.